The Secretary-General of the Arab Interior Ministers Council, Dr Mohamed bin Ali Kuman, has praised the unparalleled success achieved by Qatar in organising the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, extending his congratulations to the wise leadership, the government and the Qatari people for this success. This came in his opening speech to the council's 40th session held in Tunis recently.
Dr Kuman said that for the first time, the World Cup events are held in an Arab country, saying that Arabs have the right to be proud of the distinguished organisation and atmosphere of the tournament, making it — as observers pointed out -- the best World Cup edition. He added that the World Cup was an opportunity to spread the values of the Arab-Islamic civilisation, introduce the Arab heritage, and the decisive contributions to human civilisation, wishing Qatar further success, progress, and prosperity.
Dr Kuman said that the Arab Interior Ministers Council has reached its peak after 40 years of tireless work in strengthening Arab co-operation in internal security and combating crime, stressing that one of the reasons for this success is the council's keenness to evaluate its work mechanisms to keep pace with security developments and addressing emerging challenges and emerging criminal threats, which is reflected in several items on the agenda of this session.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit affirmed that joint Arab action in the security fields remains an indispensable necessity to mobilise a concerted collective confrontation of security phenomena, especially cross borders issues, stressing the importance of exchanging opinions regarding emerging developments in Arab societies that have many commonalities.
He pointed out that this session is taking place in very delicate circumstances, especially in light of the continued suffering of the Arab region from serious civil conflicts, some of which are being torn apart, with all that entails from cross-border and transnational repercussions, as is the case with refugee flows or some dangerous security phenomena such as the spread of terrorist groups and drug trafficking.
He also stressed the urgent need for an integrated security vision that takes into account the social conditions that arose from global developments, underlining the importance of uprooting extremist thought by dismantling its ideological structure. Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif al-Saud, the honorary president of the council, stressed that the promotion of the implementation of the desired Arab co-operation model requires support for integration and co-ordination efforts, and the exchange of experiences and expertise to develop means and mechanisms that depend on a comprehensive analytical study of data and information related to all types of crimes to prevent and combat them according to a comprehensive system of strategies, plans and decisions related to the areas of security in its comprehensive concept.
He highlighted that the Arab world is witnessing rapid developments that resulted in multiple security and social threats, the most prominent of which is the danger of the spread of the drug scourge that is decimating societies, targeting youth and destroying all foundations of development and prosperity, expressing his confidence in the ability to overcome all challenges facing the security and stability of the Arab countries.
Tunisian Minister of Interior Tawfiq Charafeddine highlighted the security challenges facing the Arab region, which necessitates that everyone redouble efforts, unify visions, and further strengthen co-operation between various agencies, bodies and organisations, whether Arab, regional or international, in the framework of a comprehensive, multidimensional approach, in light of a moving and changing regional and international situation.
